[vedic-culture] Report on LA Vedic Conferance

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World Association for Vedic Studies, Inc.

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'International Conference on New Perspectives

on Vedic & Ancient Indian Civilization'

August 7-9, 1998, Los Angeles, LA, USA

 

A Brief Report

 

The Second Biennial conference of World Association for Vedic Studies (WAVES),

'International Conference on New Perspectives on Vedic & Ancient Indian

Civilization was held on August 7-9, 1998, in Los Angeles, LA, USA.

 

The Conference attracted some outstanding scholars on Vedic and ancient studies,

like Professor McKim Marriott, Professor of Anthropology, Chicago University,

Professor B. B. Lal, Former Director General of Archaeological Survey of India;

Professor K. L. Seshagiri Rao, Dept. of Religion, University of South Carolina,

Columbia & Chief Editor of the Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Professor S. S. Rama

Rao Pappu, Professor of Philosophy, Miami University, Oxford; Professor R. R.

Pandey, Professor and Head, Dept. of Philosophy & Religion, Banaras Hindu

University, Varanasi, Professor R. C. Pandey, Professor and Head, Department of

Astrology, Banaras Hindu University, Professor Siddheshwar R. Bhatt, Professor

of Philosophy, University of Delhi, Professor Robert Anderson, San Jose State

University., Dr. Edwin Bryant, Department of Religion, Harvard University,

Padmashri Professor Laxmi Narayan Dube, Sagaur.

 

Number of Papers Presented: In all, the proceeding were conducted in 22

sessions, which included two sessions of public lectures and a panel discussion.

Separately there was an evening of cultural program of classical dances and

music of India and Thailand, and banquet arranged in a restaurant.

 

Besides panel discussion, there were 60 papers presented -- 56 in academic

sessions and 4 in public sessions. The persons who presented scholarly papers

included professors and scholars from following universities:

 

Universities of USA: 1. Harvard University; 2. Chicago University, 3.

Wisconsin University, 4. Jackson State University, 5. Arizona State University,

6. San Jose State University, 7. University of Memphis, 8. Tennessee State

University, 9. University of California, 10. Loyola Marymont University, 11.

Prairie View A &M University, TX, 12. University of Southwestern Louisiana, 13.

University of Colorado, 14. Colorado State University, 15. Purdue University,

16. Xavier University of LA, 17. South Carolina State University, Columbia, 18.

Miami University, Oxford, 19. University of Arizona.

 

Universities of India: 1. Banaras Hindu University, 2. University of Delhi, 3.

Jawaharlal Nehru University, 4. Pune University, 5. South Gujrat University

(Surat); 6. Bombay University, 7. Ravi Shanker University, Sagaur

 

Universities of Canada: University of Toronto

 

Universities of UK: University of Plymouth

 

Universities of Belgium: Catholic University, Leuven

 

Universities of Australia: Deaken University, Melborne

 

Besides university academics and scholars, there were other scholars on Indian

studies, like Dr. S. Kalyanraman, David Frawley (Director, American Inst. Of

Vedic Studies), Dr. J. N. Sharma (Executive Director, Delhi Research Inst. For

Modernized Promotion of Ayurveda) who actively participated in the conference by

making presentations. Some philanthropists like Mr. Navin Doshi (who created a

chair in Indian Studies at UCLA), and Dr. G. V. Chelvapila (Cardiologist) of Los

Angeles also participated by speaking in public sessions.

 

Academic Areas Covered: The papers covered a broad spectrum of academic areas,

namely, archaeology, anthropology, religion, philosophy, political and social

issues, epics, science in ancient India, Ayurveda & Indian System of medicine,

consciousness, literature & linguistics.

 

Public Lectures: During the conference, two public lecture sessions were

organized. In these sessions following presentations were made:

 

Mr. Jagdish C. Sharma, Consul General of India Chicago: Hindu Temples of

Vietnam, An illustrated talk;

Dr. G. V. Chelvapila: Indian Influences Outside Indian Frontiers

Mr. Navin Doshi: Creating Chairs of Indian Studies in US Universities

Mr. David Frawley: Vedic Heritage of Both India and Europe

 

Number of Participants: Close to 200 persons participated in the conference.

The largest number, from outside USA was from India from where 21 persons came

specially for the conference. Delegations came from Vedic Temple of Atlanta (4

persons), Hindu University of America (FL, 3 persons), VESCO (LA, 4 persons).

 

Special Releases: The World Association for Vedic Studies released its following

publications:

 

1. Revisiting Indus-Sarasvati Age & Ancient India (Proceedings of the Atlanta

-1996 Conference) - Edited by Dr. Bhu Dev Sharma and Dr. Nabarun Ghose,

containing 46 articles (11 on Indus Sarasvati Civilization, 8 on Vedas, 5 on

Women in Ancient India, 7 on Ancient Indian Science, 5 on Historical

Perspectives, 10 on miscellaneous topics), 504 pages, $40.00 to individuals and

$99.00 for libraries & institutions.

 

2. Journal of Studies on Ancient Studies, Vol. 1 (1998) No. 1: Containing 7

research articles. The research quarterly is free for members of WAVES, $30.00

(per volume) for individuals; $100.00 (per Volume) for libraries and

institutions.

 

Concluding Session, A Simple Resolution, and Coming Events: In the concluding

session, the participants were requested to give their critical comments and

suggestions. A number of persons spoke. Everyone rated conference a great

success and paid glowing tributes to the organizers of the conference. In

appreciation for organizing the conference, The City of Los Angeles presented

'Certificates of Appreciation' to Dr. Bhu Dev Sharma (President of the WAVES),

Dr. Rangasami L. Kashyap (General Sec. of the WAVES), Dr. Deen B. Chandora

(Treasurer of the WAVES), Mr. Rayalu Vishwanadha (Local Co-Director of the

Conference); Mr. Jaidev Rao (Local Co-Director of the Conference), and Dr. Radha

Sarma (Local Committee Member).

The Chairman, Dr. Bhu Dev Sharma acknowledged the support from several persons,

and local support from Mr. Rayalu Vishwanadha, Mr. Jaidev Rao, Dr. Manohar

Shinde, Mr. Navin Doshi, Mr. Ajit Deshpande, Mr. Chetan Gandhi, Mr. Ram Malladi,

and others. Dr. Chandora thanked them and others for the help.

 

Following announcements were made:

 

Third Biennial Conference: WAVES has tentatively accepted an invitation for

holding its Third Biennial Conference in New York / New Jersey area, in the year

2000. Details will be announced later.

 

Conference in India: India Branch of WAVES will hold its conference in December

1998 in New Delhi. Details will be announced soon.

 

Other Conferences/Symposia: WAVES will arrange regional/national conferences

from time to time in different parts of the world. Some places under

considerations are - Boston (MA, USA), Houston (TX, USA), London (UK), Banglore

(India), and Ahmedabad (India).

 

A Resolution: It was unanimously resolved that - 'Hindu Dharma' is more

appropriate a term and so should be used instead of the term 'Hinduism.'

 

Submitted by: Professor Bhu Dev Sharma (President, WAVES)

 

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